our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Responding to God’s Leading
At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:20
In August 2015, when I was preparing to attend a university a couple of hours from home, I realized I probably wouldn’t move back home after graduation. My mind raced. How can I leave home? My family? My church? What if God later calls me to another state or country?
Like Moses, when God told him to go “to Pharaoh to bring [His] people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10), I was afraid. I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone. Yes, Moses obeyed and followed God, but not before questioning Him and requesting that someone else go instead (vv. 11–13; 4:13).
No matter how difficult it may be, following Jesus is worth it.
In Moses’s example, we can see what we shouldn’t do when we sense a clear calling. We can instead strive to be more like the disciples. When Jesus called them, they left everything and followed Him (Matthew 4:20–22; Luke 5:28). Fear is natural, but we can trust God’s plan.
Being so far from home is still difficult. But as I continually seek God, He opens doors for me that confirm I am where I’m supposed to be.
When we are led out of our comfort zone, we can either go reluctantly, like Moses, or willingly like the disciples—who followed Jesus wherever He led them. Sometimes this means leaving our comfortable life hundreds or even thousands of miles behind us. But no matter how difficult it may be, following Jesus is worth it.
Lord, help me to follow You wherever You lead.
We are not called to be comfortable.
回应呼召
他们就立刻舍了网，跟从了祂。-马太福音4章20节
在2015年8月，我正准备进入一所离家几个小时车程的大学就读，我知道自己毕业后或许也不会搬回来了。顿时，万千思绪浮现脑海：我怎么可以离开家乡，离开家人和教会呢？如果上帝呼召我去另一个州或别的国家，那该怎么办？
当上帝呼召摩西去见法老，将祂的百姓以色列人从埃及领出来时（出埃及记3章10节），摩西感到害怕，我也像他一样，因我不想离开自己的舒适圈。没错，摩西后来顺服且跟从了上帝，但刚开始时，他反问上帝，也要求上帝差派其他的人去（11-13节，4章13节）。
摩西的例子让我们看到，当我们清楚上帝的呼召时，就不该质疑，而是致力效法门徒的回应。当耶稣呼召门徒时，他们便舍下一切跟从了祂（马太福音4章20-22节；路加福音5章28节）。恐惧是人的天性，但我们可以相信上帝的计划。
离开温暖的家对我来说很不容易。但当我不断地寻求上帝，祂便为我开路，让我确信自己正走在祂指引的道路上。
当上帝指引我们离开自己的舒适圈，我们可以选择像摩西一样勉强地回应呼召，或像门徒一样，不论耶稣往何处去，他们都甘心乐意地跟随。有时，这表示我们可能会远离舒适的生活。但无论多困难，跟随耶稣永远是值得的。
亲爱的主，无论祢领我往何处去，
求祢帮助我能甘心跟从祢。